Yahoo!Sports Japan has reported the PRIDE offices are now closed. Jamie Pollack, specially appointed UFC legal advisor, has offically fired all staff associated with the former Pride organization. The best part of this was that this was done by international phone instead of in person.

According to Sasahara, PRIDE public relations boss, comments on Sports Navigator (Yahoo Japan), "I am very sorry for the many fans of PRIDE. We should have explained it before a final decision happened like this. USA's new PRIDE boss has cheated many PRIDE supporters and I am angry with them. I believed new owner Lorenzo Fertitta's comments when he said, 'PRIDE will be back,' and I told many fans that. But...suddenly this happens!! The staff can not enter their offices, cannot use their PC's and cell phones."

With Dana White's comments over the last few months its seems that only the Pride employees didn't see this coming.  The only thing to see now is how the Japan market will be towards the new UFC and the decimated Pride franchise.